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CareFusion Foundation Launches $500,000 Grant Program to Support Infection Prevention Best Practices

The CareFusion Foundation announces the launch of a new $500,000 grant program to help identify and share infection prevention best practices across hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. In addition, CareFusion Corp. is launching a virtual "I Pledge" wall, introduced in observance of International Infection Prevention Week.

The new grant program is the largest ever from the CareFusion Foundation, which was established in 2009. The CareFusion Foundation will award up to $ 500,000 in grants to health care organizations to help fund clinical training programs that improve infection prevention practices. The maximum grant for any one recipient will not exceed $50,000. Eligibility requirements and grant applications are available at www.carefusion.com/clinicalexcellence.

The virtual "I Pledge" wall, located at www.infectionpreventionpledge.com, is designed to forward the global infection prevention movement. Healthcare professionals and the infection control community are invited to sign the wall and pledge to keep infection prevention initiatives and best practices top of mind when they care for patients. For the first 10,000 healthcare professionals who sign the wall, CareFusion will donate $1 per signature to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

"Healthcare-associated infections are one of the most critical issues facing the healthcare community today, and we have a responsibility to work with our customers and peers to raise awareness and promote infection control best practices," says Cindi Crosby, PhD, vice president of global medical affairs for CareFusion. "With $ 500,000 in new Foundation grants and a virtual pledge wall, our active participation in International Infection Prevention Week reaffirms our commitment to working with healthcare professionals to advance infection prevention initiatives in their respective hospitals and healthcare facilities."

International Infection Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 14-20, 2012, is an annual event that strives to emphasize the role of infection prevention in improving patient outcomes.

"Throughout my two decades in the infection prevention community, I have learned that awareness, education and best practice sharing are three pillars to reducing preventable infections," says Ruth Carrico, professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and 2012 recipient of the Carole DeMille Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed from APIC. "I commend CareFusion and all other companies and organizations that have taken leadership steps to help promote initiatives that help reduce health care associated infections. I am honored to be chosen as the first person to sign the 'I Pledge' wall, and I will continue to honor this pledge through my work every day."

The CareFusion Foundation exists to create and support opportunities to improve the safety and cost of healthcare for generations to come. As part of this commitment, the Foundation supports organizations on the forefront of clinical excellence and best practices in health care. Established in 2009, the CareFusion Foundation is committed to helping improve health and wellness in the communities it serves and the interests of organizations working to improve healthcare around the world. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com/giving.